This is the 13th of The Athlete’s Connection’s 30 football previews in 30 days leading up to the season-opening games beginning Thursday, Aug. 28. Today, Dave Purpura visits with Pasadena Memorial to check on the Mavericks.

Contrary to what took place in spring football, Pasadena Memorial senior Bo Snelson won’t follow his tremendously successful junior season at running back by playing quarterback his senior year.

And he’ll be the first person to tell the entire story why, even though it’s not particularly flattering.

“My dad (head coach John Snelson) had some ideas about having me at quarterback and playing me as an athlete (instead of just at running back) and we ran quite a few plays but it just didn’t seem to fit for the team,” Bo Snelson said. “I could have been a decent quarterback but I wasn’t being a team player.

“I’d lost a lot of friends I’d played with for three years. The whole offensive line and Dylan (Adamek, last year’s quarterback) were graduated and Chance (Imhoff, a wide receiver) was back. I had a good attitude toward everyone I knew but I cut everyone else out.”

While not excusing the behavior of his son, who rushed for 2,134 yards and 30 touchdowns, John Snelson felt those numbers – which have garnered Bo offers from every Ivy League school and Navy plus interest from Boise State and the University of Houston – got to his head.

“We had a lot of traffic coming through here from recruiters and I think he got caught up in himself,” John Snelson said. “For whatever reason, he and Chance took it upon themselves to do everything. It was strange. I’d never seen that side of him. But we had a talk and he felt so bad he ended up calling a team meeting. About 40 guys showed up and he apologized to every one of them for acting like he did. Now he’s doing all he can to help this team win.”

A season exceeding last year might take the Mavericks even further into unchartered territory. Last year’s 10-3 record was the school’s best; the Mavericks also went 5-2 in District 22-5A.

Pasadena Memorial lost 43 seniors but return eight starters – four on each side.

The Mavericks open 2008 Aug. 28 at Clear Brook, then visit Fort Bend Clements before hosting defending 4A state champion Lamar Consolidated on Sept. 12.

Snelson and Imhoff, who had 25 catches for 456 yards and five touchdowns last year, should pace the offense with receiver Chase Adamek, Dylan’s brother. Right tackle Jacob Socie and tight end Javier Martinez return on the line.

The Mavericks hope Imhoff, a former running back, will bring a physical outside presence to a team that ideally boasts a 60-40 run-pass balance.

“He’s basically a tight end that runs a 4.4 40,” Bo Snelson said.

“I want to perform well and go out and hit people,” Imhoff said.

With Snelson returning to the backfield, former cornerback Tate Gresham and Bryan Schultz are competing for the starting quarterback job.

“Tate is more like Dylan in that he’s more athletic,” John Snelson said. “He’s a better runner. He doesn’t have a lot of experience there. Bryan is a better pure passer. We’ll see how this plays out.”

The returning defensive starters are nose guard Jonathan Modisette, inside linebackers Taylor Hart and David Gregory, and cornerback Wykie Freeman.

“This is a tight-knit bunch that thinks they’ve been overlooked,” Snelson said. “Last year’s class was the one that everyone was waiting for and this year’s senior class was kind of second-class citizens. They’re looking for their own identity.”

PASADENA MEMORIAL 2008 SCHEDULE
Aug. 28: at Clear Brook, 6 p.m. (at Veterans Memorial Stadium)
Sept. 5: at Fort Bend Clements, 7:30 p.m. (at Hall Stadium)
Sept. 12: Lamar Consolidated, 7 p.m. (at Pasadena Memorial Stadium)
Sept. 25: Dobie, 7 p.m. (at Pasadena Memorial Stadium, as home team)
Oct. 3: Pasadena, 7 p.m. (at Pasadena Memorial Stadium, as visiting team)
Oct. 10: Sam Rayburn, 7 p.m. (at Pasadena Memorial Stadium, as home team)
Oct. 17: at Pearland, 7 p.m. (at The Rig)
Oct. 25: La Porte, 1 p.m. (at Pasadena Memorial Stadium)
Oct. 31: South Houston, 7 p.m. (at Pasadena Memorial Stadium, as home team)
Nov. 7: at Deer Park, 7 p.m. (at Abshier Stadium)

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